Improvement in convertible corn-planters



, UNITED STATES PATENQEEICE- AIIIQEEW EUNSTETLEE, 0E rEonIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNQE To SAMUEL 1 cocu.

EAN, oE SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT lIN CONVERTIBLE CORN-PLANTERS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent N o. 116,493, dated June 27, 1 871.

. scription of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making a part of this specification, in

Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of corn-planter. Fig. 2 1s a plan view of same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of corn-stalk cutter as combined with the frame of planter. Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe same.

Like letters in the different figures of the drawings indicate like parts.

My invention relates to an arrangement of parts by which the planter may be readily converted into a corn-stalk cutter, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

A A are the side beams ofthe planter-frame, which are strengthened by the cross-pieces C D E. B is the axle; l), cross-piece under front of the box, in front of which is a clevis, d d, hav.- ing perpendicular slots in each plate, in which is adjusted a bolt, which secures the heel ot the tongue K at the required angle. E is a Inovable bar across the forward end ot' the frame, and

bolted to the latter, and to which bar the clevises t t, carrying the forward ends of the runners, are` attached.4 F is a lever for raising the runners from the soil, and pivoted at g to the box-bar Gr, and passing to the rear, and terminating in a cross foot-board, ff, and pivot-ed intermediately at f, in each arm oi' the shoe W, at the base of the seat-bars Z. H is the corn or dropper-box, of the usual pattern; I, the chutef the runners; I I, the runners; K, the tongue adjusted to clevis d, as described under reference letter D, above; L, the wheels 5 M, the upper plate of the oscillating part of the cutoff-a a; being the eut-offs propel', whose front ends are rounded so as not to cut or damage the corn, and hollowed out beneath for a similar purpose. b b are the projecting elbows ofthe plate, which follow their respective cut-od' a a, pushing the corn in the proper holes e e in the stationary plate N; M M, the lower plate of the oscillating part of cut-off, called the slide, of similar size, and fastened to the upper plate M by means of screws at the sides,

and steadied by means of the dogs or clamps p p p p at the corners. This plate has two holes p'ierced'in it at m m, where the dotted lines indicate them; they are, of course, in a line with those in the stationary plate N. The sliding dropperplates M M M are united from either side of the machine by a link, and moved by a lever, d (l, which oscillates transversely of the machine; N, the stationary intermediate plate part of the dropper mechanism, inclosed between the plates M M M, having pert'orations e e, which are set to any slight change of size by means of the adjusting-gauge I. This plate ,is fastened to the lower edges ofthe box, at either end. Y is au adjustable rolling scraper-rod, carrying at either end a knife for cleaning the wheels. Z represents the bars supl'iorting the drivers seat, each resting in a shoe, W, bolted to the axle B, the shoes having each an arm, f, which carries the piu ofthe lever F; on these bars are set adjustable foot-rests, vz z, which slide by means of a bolt and slots, and can be set to any height.

Having thus described the frame-work and other parts of the planter, the construction of which is peculiarly adapted for'the purpose intended, I will now proceed to describe how the same may be readily converted into a corn-stalk cutter. To do this I remove the boxes H, lever F, and bar E, with the attachedrunners II, and insert the corn-stalk cutter, by simply making the shorter beam E E take the place ofE. This bar E carries the forward ends ofthe two parallel` curved sides Q Q of the frame ofthe stalk-cutter in the clevlses t t, being further kept steady by the uprights r yr on the bar D, permitting the perpendicular motion of the latter. VThe rear end of the frame Q terminates with a rolling stalkcntter, T, the axle of which rests in the end of the frame Q. It consists of four horizontal blades set in a circle. B. R are twoparallel levers pi voted to either end of the axle ofthe cutter T, each resting against a guide, u u. at each side of the y planter-frame. By means of these levers the cutter is raised from the soil. S S are two similar parallel bars immovably fastened to either side of the upper part of the frame Q, and by which the work of the cutter is regulated.

To explain more particularly the manner of adapting the corn-stalk cutter to the frame of the planter, the bar E is unbolted and lifted olf the frame A A, taking with it the boxes H H and lever F, then introducing into the frame the cutter Q Q S T. The beam E E, carrying the forward ends of the beams Q Q, is placed in the place formerly occupied by the runner-bar E, and bolted to the frame. The pivoted levers R R rest between the guides u u attached to the ends of I the bar B, (all-shown in Figs. 3 and 4,) and in the slotted guides r r, on the bar D of the same.-

Work, and can be thrown' back or down until it lies as shown by the dotted lines.

Havin g thus full y described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The convertible corn-planter, consisting of l beams A A, removable beam E, stationary beam D provided with the nprights 1 o", and slotted clevis d, carrying the heel of' the tongue K, axle B provided with the guides u u, seat-bars Z Z, with shoes fw w constructed so as to aford a bearing' for the pivots of box-lever F. all arranged and adapted to receive the parallel levers R R and foot-bars S S, and removable beam E E car rying the rotary corn-stalk cutter, substantially as described. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I, AN- DREW RUNSTETLER, have hereunto -set my hand this 30th day of November, 1870.

' ANDREW RUNSTETLER.

Witnesses: SAMUEL CALDWELL,- EDMUND THURLoW. 

